FTC Extends Public Comment Period in Petroleum Industry Market Manipulation NPRM Proceeding To October 17, 2008; Announces Details for Public Workshop

– The Commission today announced an extension of the public comment period for the recently issued Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on petroleum industry market manipulation. The Commission posted the NPRM on the FTC’s Web site on August 13, 2008. The NPRM announced that public comments on the proposed rule were due no later than September 18, 2008. In response to a request to extend the comment period received on September 5, 2008, the Commission has determined to extend the comment period until October 17, 2008. The Federal Register notice, which is available now on the FTC’s Web site and as a link to this press release, provides information on how, and in what form, comments should be submitted.

The Commission today also approved the issuance of a Federal Register notice formally announcing details of a public workshop in the petroleum industry market manipulation rulemaking. The workshop will take place in Washington, DC, on November 6, 2008. Those desiring to participate in the workshop as panelists must submit a request to participate by October 6, 2008, and must also submit a comment in response to the NPRM. Details about the workshop are available in the Federal Register notice, now available on the FTC’s Web site and as a link to this press release.

The Commission vote approving the issuance of Federal Register notices announcing the extension of the public comment period and formally announcing the workshop was 4-0. (FTC File No. P082900; the staff contact for the workshop is Catherine C. Harrington-McBride, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2452; see related press release dated August 26, 2008).

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.